Mikayla Cowling, Brittany Boyd combine for 35 points as No. 14 Cal holds off Hawaii 79-72

HONOLULU – Fourteenth-ranked Cal survived a late Hawaii rally, a hard takedown of Brittany Boyd and a pair of technical fouls to beat Hawaii 79-72 in the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic on Friday night.

Coach Lindsay Gottlieb was tossed with 24 seconds to play after floor leader Boyd, who scored 17 points with nine assists, went down hard on a foul.

Ashleigh Karaitiana sank three of the four technicals. The Rainbow Wahines (2-1) then forced a turnover and Shawna-Lei Kuehu hit a bank shot cutting the gap to 77-72

Boyd hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to seal the win. Mikayla Cowling scored 18 points with nine rebounds for Cal (3-0) and Courtney Range added 14.

Kuehu scored a career-high 29 for Hawaii, Karaitiana added 14.

The Bears trailed for the first time this season, falling behind by seven. But when Hawaii went 4:10 without scoring, Cal rallied 13-0.